Healing Fire

by Angela Castle

  "Is there a problem with that?" Summer kept Blossom close to her side.

  "Your medical records and my photographic memory recall putting several pins into your knees and a metal plate into your hip. You had irreversible nerve damage after the accident, which I did my best to repair."

  Summer drew in a slow breath. Everything Melor told her was true. He was an alien along with his friends. He had healed her, and now they wanted to know how.

  "I have done every test there was to do and can find nothing wrong with you. How did this happen?"

  Summer glanced at the men behind the doctor; they too waited for the answer.

  "I was healed." And that was all she was going to tell them.

  "Mrs. Rose, I'm Detective Gortez of the LAPD. Did your miraculous healing have anything to do with these?" The first of the policemen stepped forward. He held up an evidence bag with a hand full of little gleaming gems. He set them down on the bedside table.

  The healing gems.

  "I'm not at liberty to say." No way would she betray Melor now. "Where are Melor and the others?"

  "They are in custody, and you're safe from them." The one man without the badge stepped forward. She picked up on his Australian accent.

  "Mrs. Rose, do you realize the danger you were in with those people? Over thirty women have gone missing because of them. I've been tracking them since they vanished from Tasmania over six months ago. We need to know anything they might have told you or what they said to convince you to go with them into the agency."

  Summer knew she couldn't tell them anything.

  "I'm sorry. I can't remember much since I woke up here." She tensed against the lie. Blossom glanced up at her.

  The detective let out a breath of annoyance. "It seems they have gotten to you too. Doctor, is she cleared to leave the hospital?"

  "As far as I can tell there is nothing wrong with her. I would like to examine these things." Dr. McCutcheon picked up the evidence bag, studying the gleaming gems.

  "You had best come with us down to the station for questioning," Detective Gortez stated firmly. From the hard line of his mouth, Summer knew that arguing the point would be useless, but she needed to buy some time. She had to think of something to get away and save Melor and his friends.

  "I don't have any clothes," Summer protested.

  "We'll get you something from lost property." Dr. McCutcheon set down the healing gems.

  Summer darted forward and snatched the bag, taking a step back. She clutched the bag firmly in her hand.

  "Mrs. Rose, hand over the evidence please," Detective Gortez ordered, stepping forward.

  Summer lifted her chin, glaring defiantly back. "I will, once I'm dressed. Now, if you gentlemen will please leave for a moment until they can find me some clothes…"

  Everyone, including the doctor, exited the room.

  Summer ran forward and shut the door. "God, baby, what are we going to do? We need to get away."

  "Why don't we go to Kell?" Blossom said.

  "We can't just go to Kell. We need Melor for that and one of those portal gem thingies."

  Blossom suddenly grinned. From the pocket of her jeans, she pulled a glowing blue gem, just like the one Melor had shown her. "One like this?"

  Summer gasped. "Where'd you get that?"

  "Jane slipped it into my hand when she heard the police yelling. She said all we had to do was think about a place in Kell and the portal would open."

  "Can you do it? Melor has told you more about Kell than he has me." Summer glanced about the room. There wouldn't be time to get clothes. She ripped off the bed sheet and wrapped it around her body.

  Watching as Blossom's small fingers closed around the gem and closed her eyes, Summer waited with her heart in her throat, praying more than hoping it would work.

  "Field of green and purple sky, where the stag run freely by the long winding river standing tall in the distance is the crystal palace," Blossom whispered.

  A wind whipped around them, and before their eyes a large bright blue swirling portal opened up by the wall.

  "Oh my God, it worked!" Summer stood as wide eyed as Blossom, who held out her hand to her. Summer walked over to her daughter and gripped her hand, tightly pushing aside the fear. She loved Melor and would do anything to save him.

  "If we go to King Adalardo, he will be able to rescue Melor and his friends," said Blossom.

  "Alright, we'll go in together, on the count of three."

  Blossom nodded and Summer could feel her small hands trembling.

  With utter faith in her heart, along with the love she carried for Melor, Summer started to count. "One, two, three." They ran towards the portal and jumped.

  ~ * ~

  Tall grass swayed around her legs, tickling her feet. Summer drew in a breath of sweet fresh air unlike anything she'd ever encountered. They stood in a long open field, and down the slope a sparkling clear river snaked its way towards the coast shimmering in the far distance.

  "We're in Kell. Look, Mom, stag!" Blossom tugged urgently at her hand.

  Summer turned to look at a herd of strange looking creatures. They had shapes like horses, yet had large thick necks and huge heads, some with oddly shaped antlers. They grazed lazily on the grass.

  To her right in the distance, she saw a township shadowed by a huge sparkling castle. The Crystal Palace.

  Summer struggled to get her head around the fact she now stood on a different planet. But she didn't have time to muse and ponder the wonders of it; she needed to get help for Melor.

  "C'mon, we'll head towards the town."

  Hand in hand they started walking towards a well-worn path. Thankfully, in the grass there were no hard stones to hurt her feet, and the feeling of being pain and limp-free made her bounce along.

  Blossom giggled. "You okay?"

  "Yes, baby. I don't even limp anymore. I bet I can even skip. Want to have a race to that tree?"

  Blossom tore her hand from Summer's and started running, Summer running after her, laughing and breathless. Blossom reached the odd blue leafed tree first; its branches were a reflective silvery color.

  "Okay," huffed Summer as she caught up, trying to catch her breath. "I can run and jump, but obviously not as fast as you little koala. You win."

  "Yay!" Blossom grinned and gave a little twirl of victory.

  "We'd better not waste any more time, baby. Melor needs us."

  "Okay, Mom. Oh, look, someone's coming."

  Out from the city gates several tall figures on stag back were riding swiftly towards them. Summer bit back her sudden panic, reminding herself no one would hurt them.

  She held on to Blossom's hand and walked towards the obviously welcoming party. As they drew closer, Summer tried not to let her trepidation show.

  Two large dark men pulled their stags to a stop only a few feet from where she and Blossom stood.

  All of them wore similar clothing to what Melor had been wearing when she'd first hit him with her car. Strapped to their thick waist she could see the swords.

  One of the men smiled as his gaze ran over her from head to toe. Summer gripped the sheet tighter around her body. The first of the men began to speak a language she couldn't understand.

  "Mom, Melor speaks English," Blossom said, mirroring Summer's confusion.

  Summer shook her head. "Do you speak English or human?"

  The two men looked at each other.

  "You human, female," one said in broken English.

  "Yes." She lifted her right wrist to show the bracelet, hoping they would understand.

  The warrior suddenly looked crest fallen, eyeing the bracelet.

  "I need to help Melor."

  "Melor?"

  The two men suddenly got into what seemed a heated argument, gesturing towards her and Blossom.

  "Name, female?"

  "I am Summer." She pointed towards herself. "This is Blossom." She pointed at her daughter. "Need help, please."

  "I, Briac,"
he introduced then slapped the other warrior almost comically in the chest. "Lug head, Sarid. Summer, Blossom human, we help. Come, you be safe."

  The warrior stepped forward. He was very handsome, tall and buff, but no one but Melor held any interest. He offered his hand.

  "Take us to the King?" Summer asked hopefully.

  "Aye, take you to King."

  Summer took his offered hand in trust, and the one called Sarid smiled down at Blossom.

  "Ride stag?"

  "Yes!" She excitedly bounced forward and the big warrior laughed, scooping her up and placing her onto the stag. Briac led Summer towards his mount, gingerly laying his hands on her waist and lifted her up before mounting up behind her.

  Sarid and Blossom had already turned back towards the city, her "Yippie!" happy yells echoing across the valley.

  "Pretty daughter," Briac rumbled behind her. "Pretty lady. Melor blessed by Goddess."

  "Please hurry. Melor is in trouble. He needs help," she urged.

  Briac shouted something in his language to the other man and pushed the stag into a gallop. Thankfully, his arm around her weight kept her steady as they raced towards the city.

  "No worry, we help."

  Chapter Thirteen

  It was hard not to become distracted by the beautiful gleaming colors of the crystals in the walls, around the windows and even roofs of the houses they passed as they rode through the village. The only place Summer didn't see a crystal was the ground, even when they passed over a long, large stone bridge and onto the grounds of the Palace. If not for all the shining crystals, it reminded her very much of a medieval palace she'd seen drawn in old fantasy books.

  Tall Kell men were everywhere; she spotted some younger boys running about in the village, but saw no sign of any women. Her heart felt for the people remembering what Melor had told her about the attack and death of their women and many children.

  They rode down a long corridor and emerged into a large courtyard. The stags' hooves made a clip clop sound on the cool grey stone under their feet.

  Briac shouted and some men came running to hold the bridle of his stag before he dismounted. He turned to help her down off the creature.

  Blossom came running up to her. "Oh, Mom, that was so much fun. I want to go riding again!"

  The warrior Sarid came up and gave Blossom a low bow before rubbing the scruff of her head. He nodded to Briac, turned and strode off across the courtyard while other men lead the stags away.

  "Perhaps Melor will want to take you next time, baby. Right now we have other things to think about remember?"

  "I haven't forgotten. I miss him, Mom."

  Summer wrapped her arm around Blossom in comfort. "I do too, baby. These are his friends; they'll help us get him back."

  A huge dark man swept into the courtyard. From the rich purple and red color of his robes and jewel-covered sash across his chest, Summer could only guess he was the King. By his side, hanging on his arm, was a beautiful red headed, full figured woman. She wore a beautiful green colored dress which appeared to be wrapped around her body. From the bulge under her generous breasts, it was clear she was several months pregnant.

  Briac gave a bow to the couple and spoke rapidly in his native tongue, before taking a step back.

  "Is it true, you are the Protected of Melor?"

  The woman spoke. Why was Summer not surprised to hear her accent was Australian. Were all the women in Kell from Australia?

  "Yes, I'm Summer. This is my daughter, Blossom."

  "I am told you came through the portal by yourselves?"

  "We had no choice. Jane gave Blossom a portal gem just before the police raided the agency. The LAPD have Melor, Drystan and Jane. When Melor healed my injuries I passed out and they took us to the hospital. The police wanted to take me in for questioning as well. We thought it best to come here to Kell and get help."

  The king's handsome face turned down in a frown as he spoke to the redhead in a language Summer did not understand.

  "You did the right thing. We will summon the sorcerer; he'll be able to lead a rescue party. I'm Penny, by the way, and this is my husband, Adalardo, King of Kell. We need to get you some translation powder, and by the look of it, some clothes. I am sorry the circumstances in your journey to Kell are a less than joyous occasion, but we will get your Protector back. Then we can welcome you both properly. If you will come with me, we'll soon set things right."

  "Can you at least explain one thing?" Summer asked before Penny turned away. "Just what does this Protector thing mean?"

  Penny arched a delicate red eye brow. "Did not Melor tell you?"

  "He just gave me the bracelet and said I belonged to him."

  Penny shook her head, glancing up at her husband. "I warned you to tell your men to make it clear to the women before they give them the bracelet, Adalardo."

  The king looked in no way apologetic; he simply grinned and shrugged his massive shoulders. Penny scowled at her husband before turning her attention back to Summer.

  "I'm afraid the moment you get a Kell bracelet on your wrist," Penny held up her own, "it means you're married. Melor is your husband."

  Summer blinked in surprise. Melor was her husband? All this time and not once did he tell her.

  "That's cool, Mom. I now have a new dad." Blossom bounced excitedly by her side.

  Summer sucked in a sharp breath. She felt steam rise into her head and felt sure it was about to come out of her ears. "Well, if your new daddy reaches Kell alive," she said between clenched teeth, "he's in a hell of a lot of trouble."

  ~ * ~

  "Sit down, Melor. It will not do you nor your protected any good." Drystan leaned back against the small cot pinned by metal rods to the back of the wall.

  Melor stopped pacing to glance at Drystan. "Do you not worry about Jane?"

  Melor could not stop thinking about Summer, worrying if Blossom was alright. He started pacing again, hating the gut aching feeling in the pit of his stomach.

  "Aye, but I have been around the humans long enough to know they will not harm her; this is their place of law. Your lady was taken to the human place of healing; there she will be safe. And I have no doubt she will be trying her best to have us set free. My concern is more for our little Joy. She needs her mother, it will distress Jane being parted from her for so long a time."

  "What if we never get back?"

  "Have faith my friend, we shall. Until then, I know Tamara and the other ladies will care for our daughter until we return. I am sure if we are gone long enough, Adalardo will send someone to check on our whereabouts."

  Melor lowered himself to sit next to his commander.

  "To keep your mind occupied why do you not tell me your story of how you met your lovely lady? She hit you with her car?"

  Melor could not help but smile at the memory. "Aye, and so distressed was she, she spend the night in a chair to watch over me."

  ~ * ~

  "There is no solid evidence they have done anything wrong. There are no bodies, and our one witness has vanished. The only thing we can do is hold Jane Walker and deport her for unlawful entry into the U.S. The other men we can only hold for another forty-eight hours due to the fact we can't find any record of them ever existing," Detective Gortez explained.

  Detective Grant Crowell clenched his jaw in anger; had all his efforts been wasted in bringing the case to L.A?

  "And all the missing women?"

  "We've been over the premises carefully and came up with nothing other than a few unusually crafted swords, daggers and some rare jewels. There is not one ounce of evidence of foul play. We have interviewed all suspects in custody and all have said the same thing and nothing more. They have only been finding wives for men from a country called Kell. And no, I've never heard of the country either."

  "It's all bullshit. I know they've done something to these women. No one just disappears off the face of the planet, unless they've been murdered." Grant jabbed his finger into his own
file of the missing women from Tasmania.

  "Detective Crowell, we initiated this investigation under that belief. And, I agree, people don't simply disappear; I had hoped to find something in the raid. But unless we get some solid evidence, there is nothing we can do."